Merry Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Christmas Traditions

'Tis the season full of traditions. Some are silly, some are spiritual, some are relaxing...whatever they are we love them and yearn to do them year after year. What are your favorite Christmas traditions? What are some tradition your remember doing when you were little that you miss? What are some new ones that you are trying out?

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are enjoying the season.

We're glad to hear about Tim's schooling. Patience is supposedly a virtue. That's what I'm told, at least. It seems the two of you have been patient on this issue.

On another note (a sad note, actually): I have started Christmas wrapping. Sad, you say? Why, yes. Yes, indeed. Most sad. The wrapping occurs in the bedroom, as usual. A much larger bedroom it is, which should make the wrapping task easier. The sad part is that the wrapping occurs in the bedroom without a Santa's Workshop sign. Woe, despair, and agony. There being no children about, there is no reason, I suppose, for such a sign. And as last season's sign was mostly, uhm, . . . ignored, the elves decided a sign would not be posted. Therefore, while wrapping continues as before, it does so in an unposted Workshop. I wonder if this might entail a violation of union rules? Or if OSHA might investigate? Then again, does OSHA have jurisdiction? The Workshop is, after all, an extension of the one located at the North Pole, far from the borders of the United States. Which raises another question. Is Santa considered an alien under Title 8 of the United States Code? Does he have a Visa? Must he submit to a body scan? Or (shudder) a pat down? Yes, I'm meandering. Till later . . . Dad

School

Just an update, Tim will be attending community college this semester. According to a counselor at SJSU he only needs 11 more units for the fall semester...We'll see if that changes when they start evaluating the fall applications, but that's another matter...He signed up for 12 units (4 classes) at SJCC for the spring semester and he has enough financial aid to cover the tuition. He signed up for general ed classes he would eventually need to take anyway.

So yay! Just fingers crossed for the fall.

PICTURE

I know it is kind of far off right now but I really want to get plans made. If we all can get together in Salt Lake in March I would like to try and have another Family Picture taken. What do you think? Right now it looks like the 2nd weekend in March the 12th and 13th. How does that sound to everyone? I need to know asap because I'm getting airline tickets for Grandma and Grandpa Huntsinger to come to California for a visit and then leave from Salt Lake after Abby is blessed.

Love MOM

Just a little fender bender...

Just the other day I was thinking how amazing it was that Matt and I drive almost 30 miles to and from work every day and we haven't been in any major accidents...well I guess I should have knocked on wood! LOL! On Sunday, November 28th while Matt was driving to work in our truck a car hit some black ice and ran into him. All things considered we are very grateful it wasn't as bad as it could have been. For starters Matt wasn't hurt (well maybe a sore neck and back) and the damage to the truck wasn't half as bad as I was expecting. True the truck isn't looking as nice as it was before...


But I was quite surprised the damage wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Matt was able to drive the truck after the accident and even went to work (what a trooper!) The good news is it wasn't Matt's fault and so their insurance (not ours) is going to be taking care of the costs. We just had the damages estimated and it looks like it should only take about a week to get it all fixed. Not a fun situation by any means but just glad we are all safe and it's not as bad as it could have been.




Another thing we are very grateful for is the fact that I wasn't in the truck when it was hit. It may not have been that bad of accident but we feel very fortunate we didn't have to go to the hospital to make sure Abby is ok. We know the big guy is watching out for us!

When do I get to go to Hawaii?

So, I'm up in the middle of the night... again! I was thinking of all of you and thought I'd send out a little note to let you know how things are going. I am 7 months along now which means I am running out of time to get things ready for this baby. I have not gone through the boxes (and boxes and boxes) of clothes that I have saved from Luke and Leona, and the basinet that we plan to use for the baby is covered with Thom's work out clothes. I feel tired most of the time and have a very tender side from a pulled muscle I got while moving back in October. This preganancy has kicked my butt and I still have a long two months left. But, on the up side, Luke and Leona are great and very excited about the baby which helps me be excited. But Luke wants a baby boy and Leona wants a girl and I don't think they will be happy if they don't each get what they want, so we'll see how that goes. Thom has been in Hawaii for the past week and comes home tomorrow so he better bring me something awesome! I can't believe how hard it is when he's gone, even just for the weekend but this trip has been even harder because he was in Hawaii! What's up with that? Really, he better bring me something awesome! Anyway, I better try to get back to sleep. Love you all and see you soon!

I've noticed a paucity of entries on this blog. Come, folks. I've trained you better. Write. Write lots. Write often. Write well. Love, Pops

Time does fly

So I was just stting down to study and realized how time flies! I just realized that by the end of this semester (which happens to be in about a week) I will be able to apply for taking my boards for the LPN Program! I will actually have letters behind my name!!!!! Danielle DeGriselles LPN. CRAZY! It is wierd and kinda crazy that I will leagally be a nurse after I pass my boards. I will have to study some while visiting home but that will be fine. I also can't believe that I get to see the new place that mom and dad have in less than two weeks!!! Yep time does fly.

On another note we finally got our first snowfall. It finally is starting to look and feel like winter. Who else here thinks it will be wierd to have Christmas in the desert? I guess I will just have to go spend some time with Thom, Sarah and the kids. Oh darn :) I am so excited to see everyone.

PS Thom and Sarah I will be in town from the 15th to the 2nd and would like to visit :)

Our New Place!

Though Matt and I actually moved to our new place about 2 months ago I was finally able to get some photos taken (just in time to start decorating it for Christmas). If you would like to check them out (and check out Abby's new cute nursery) click here!